Transfer roller and picking unit for labeling machine



C. HOLM Feb. 7, 1956 TRANSFER ROLLER AND PICKING UNIT FOR LABELING MACHINE Filed May 20, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1720672807 lzzrj [falvp Feb. 7, 1956 c. HOLM 2,733,683

TRANSFER ROLLER AND PICKING UNIT FOR LABELINGMACHINE Filed May 20, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JzfyJJ frwewai" 622775 fioZWb United States A Patent TRANSFER ROLLER AND PICKING UNIT FUR LABELING MACHINE Carl Helm, Worcester, Mass, assignor to Geo. J. Meyer Manufacturing Co, Cudahy, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application May 20, 1952, Serial No. 288,876

11 Claims. (Cl. 118-236) This invention relates to labeling machines of the type wherein the label is removed from a magazine by an adhesively coated picker. While of more general utility, the invention is herein disclosed with particular reference to its embodiment in a machine of the kind wherein the picker is moved in a rectilinear path, dwelling, at different times, at a label-receiving position, at a transfer position Where the label is taken by a pneumatic transfer carriage and at a gum-receiving position or positions where adhesive is spread over the picker surface by a gum-applying element. in some machines of the kind just referred to, the pneumatic transfer carriage moves horizontally along appropriate guide rails while the picker moves vertically, the gum-applying element, for example a roll, being mounted on the transfer carriage and applying gum to the picker surface as the carriage is moving toward the label-applying position.

it is essential that the layer of adhesive which is applied to the picker surface be of as nearly a predetermined a thickness as possible'and evenly spread across the entire area of the picker. For so spreading the gum, a cylindrical roll of substantially rigid material appears to give the best results; but in order that the roll may function in this way, its axis must be spaced from the picker an accurately predetermined distance while the gum is being spread. in the design of machines of this type, and in some cases in obtaining the desired cycle of operation, provision is made to allow the picker to dwell, at times, in either one or another of two closely adjacent positions, for instance, in planes of an inch apart, one being the normal gum-receiving position which it occupies between successive label-pickingoperations, and the other being a position in which gum is applied when the machine is first started and before it begins to take labels from the supply. such an arrangement, if the gum-applying roller be set to apply gum to the picker surface while the picker is disposed in the latter position, for example, the rigid roll may exert excessive pressure against the picker surface when the latter occupies the normal position, thus making it impossible to insure the accurate coating of gum which is requisite at all times. While attempts have been made previously to remedy this difficulty, for example, by mounting the shaft of the gum roll in vertical slots to allow it to rise and fall, no prior arrangement has been reliable, in so far as the application of a uniform gum layer of predetermined thickness is concerned, and particularly in high speed machines.

4 The principal object of the present invention is to pro- .vide means for supporting the gum-applying roll so that it will apply substantially the same predetermined pressure while spreading the gum over the picker surface, whether the picker surface be'in one or the other of two closely adjacent parallel planes. A further object is to provide improved means for'supporting the gum-applying roll so that its axis will be accurately parallel to and spacedan accurately predetermined distance, from the picker surface during the gum-applying operation, even though the picker surface may be disposed in different planes during the application of gum. A further object is to provide an arrangement such that the gum-applying roll is readily removable for washing to permit substitution of one roll for another without the use of tools or dis turbing adjustments of the parts. A further object is to provide roll-supporting means such that jumping or bouncing of the roll during the cycle of operations is prevented or reduced to a minimum. Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the following more detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is a fragmentary, side elevation of a portion of a labeling machine having the present invention embodied therein; 7

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary, plan view of the pneumatic transfer carriage, gum-applying roll and picker, to larger scale than in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, vertical section substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, vertical section substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the omitted; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, to smaller scale, illustrating a modification.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the present invention is here illustrated as embodied in a labeling machine of the kind more fully illustrated and described in the patent to Carter, No. 2,600,205, dated June 10, 1952. As here shown,'the machine comprises a support S for an article A to be labeled, a magazine M for holding a stack of labels, a picker P for withdrawing one label at a time from the magazine, a gum-applying roll G operative to take gum from a supply roll B and to spread it over the label receiving surface of the picker, a transfer carriage C which is guided by rails R to move in a path perpendlcular to the path of movement of the picker P and which carries a pneumatic transfer pad T, connected by a flexible tube H to a vacuum pump or the like, the carriage being moved by a link L back and forth, from a position in which the transfer pad T takes a label from the picker to a position where the transfer pad is directly picker, other parts being above the article A and in position to deliver the label to the article, and a presser device W which presses the label firmly onto the article A after the label has been initially adhered to the article by relative movement of the article and the transfer. pad T. The various operative parts are actuated, cycle after cycle, in properly timed relation, by appropriate means, for example, such as is shown in the above patent to Carter.

In the particular machine to which the present invention is especially related, as disclosed in the aforesaid patent to Carter, provision is made for holding the picker P at an abnormally low gum-receiving position during the first few cycles of operation of the machine where it receives gum from the gum-spreading roll G, but before it is elevated to the label-picking position, thus insuring a proper application of gum to the picker before the picker attempts to take a label. After the machine has performed the first few cycles, the picker is then permitted to rise to a normal gum-receiving level, at which it dwells once during each succeeding cycle of operations. While the picker dwells at this normal, gum-receiving level, the gum-applying roll G takes gum from the roll B, the carriage C then being at its rearmost position. Assuming that the picker has previously received a label from the magazine, the transfer pad T takes the label from the picker as the carriage moves in the forward direction and the roll G applies gum to the picker surface as the label is being stripped from the latter by the transfer pad.

It thus is evident that the picker is required to receive to any substantial amount.

gum fromthe gum-applying roll G while the label-sup the character of the gum employed and the nature of the labels being applied.

The transfer carriage C, as here illustrated, is guided to move in a horizontal path by the fixed guide rails R disposed at opposite sides, respectively, of the picker, the carriage having horizontally elongate channel members (Fig. 4) which slide on the guide rails. The carriage is provided at opposite sides (Fig. 2) with upstanding homes 11 and 12, respectively, having horizontal bores which receive the pins 13 and 14, respectively. The link L, which actuates the carriage, is provided with an open ing at one end which receives the pin 13 whereby the link .is pivotally connected to the carriage. To the inner ends of the pins 13 and 14, arms 15 and 16 are pivotally connected, these arms having openings at their opposite ends whioh receive the ends of a shaft 17 (Fig, 4) which supports the gum-applying roll G. When the parts are assembled (Fig. 4) the opposite ends of the shaft 17 are closely adjacent to the finished inner surfaces of the spaced channel members 10 so that the shaft cannot move axially g V Preferably the shaft 17 has a radially extending transverse pin 18 (Fig. 3) at one end which is normally disposed between pins 19 projecting from the outer surface of the arm 15, thereby preventing the shaft 17 from rotating. On this shaft 17 there is rotatably mounted a rigid sleeve 20 (Fig. 4), for example of steel, to which the gum-applying roll G is fixedly secured, this sleeve 20 having bearing bushings 21 in its opposite end portions which turn on the shaft 17. The sleeve 20 projects outwardly beyond the opposite ends of the roll G to form trunnions on which are mounted rigid rolls 22 and, 23,.respectively, which may, for example, be

Qf steel or of a hard, shape-retaining synthetic plastic.

coating of gum from the roll G. This label-supporting surface F is provided, with suitable notches 27 (Fig. 5) in its edges for the accommodation of the label-holding prongs of the magazine. At its opposite edges the table 24 has rigid projecting ears 2% and 29, respectively, to

.which rigid rails and 31 are detachably secured. These rails 30 and 31 have upper surfaces which lie in the same horizontal plane, and, as here shown, are slightly above the plane of the label-receiving surface F. These rails 30 and 31 are located so that the rollers .22 and 23 rest upon their upper surfaces. Since the rollers 22 and 23 are rigid and rest upon the rigid rails 30 and 31 during the application of gum to the surface F, the axis of the roll G is thus maintained at an accurately predetermined distance from the surface F to which the gum is to be applied. By predetermining the diameters of the rolls 22 and 23 and/or the vertical thickness of the rails 30 and 31, it is thus possible to insure the application to the surface F of a coating of adhesive of a predetermined thickness. Since the axis of the roll G is accurately parallel to the surface F at all times, the thickness of the gum coating will be uniform. Since the rails 30 and 31 are rigidly attached to the picker so as to partake of the vert cal movements of the latter, the axis of the gum-receiving roll G will be at the same distance from the sur- .said arms.

face F of the picker whether the picker occupy one or the other of its gum-receiving positions. The present arrangement makes possible the use of a gum-transfer roll having a rigid or non-yielding surface, for instance of hard rubber or metal, which gives better performance than a roll of resilient material and a longer period of service without repair or replacement.

In Fig. 6 a slight modification is illustrated wherein the guide rails 30 and 31 are permanently united to the picker, being cast integrally with the table 24. The upper surfaces of the rails 39 and 31 are accurately machined for engagement with the rollers 22 and 23 thereby to determine the thickness of the gum applied to the picker. This arrangement may be somewhat cheaper to make than that shown in Fig. 5 and may be useful when frequent variations in operating conditions are not to be expected.

In order to prevent the gum-applying roll G from moving away from the surface F by reason of vibration of the machine or from jumping or bouncing as the rollers 22 and 23 engage the rails 30 and 31, a spring 32 is provided. This spring is here shown as a flat strip of spring metal extending across from the arm 15 to the arm 16, its opposite ends resting on pins 33 projecting inwardly from The pressure which this spring exerts upon the pins 33 may be adjusted by means of a screw 34 which passes through an opening at the center of the spring and which has threaded engagement with a bracket 35 (Fig. 3) projecting from the carriage C. By adjustment of the screw 34 the spring may be caused to bear with can cause any change in the thickness of the film of adhesive applied to the picker. To remove the roll G, the spring 32 may be rotated about its central screw 34, thus permitting the arms 15 and 16 to be swung upwardly until the ends of the shaft 17 are above the channel members 10 whereupon the shaft may be withdrawn (to the left as viewed in Fig. 4) from the sleeve 20, thus allowing the roll G with its sleeve 20 and the rollers 22 and 23 to be removed for cleaning or replacement.

Preferably the rails 30 and 31.are provided with beveled end portions 36 and 37 to facilitate the engagement or disengagement of the rollers 22 and 23 with the respective rails as the carriage moves in one direction or the other.

It will be noted from inspection of Fig. 4 that the gumapplying roller G is of an axial length such that it overlaps the surface F at the lateral edges of the latter, thus insuring the proper application of gum over the entire width of the surface F.

With the above arrangement it is possible to apply gum in a film or layer of accurately predetermined thickness to the picker surface while the latter occupies one or another of a plurality of parallel planes, with the assurance that no matter what the position of the picker may be, the layer of gum will be of the same predetermined thickness and uniform throughout.

While one desirable embodiment of the invention has herein been illustrated and described by way of example,

it is to be understood that the invention is broadly inclusive of any and all modifications falling within the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A labeling machine having a picker provided with a label-receiving surface, means for moving the picker in a path perpendicular to said label-receiving surface, a gum-applying roll for applying gum to said surface, means for moving the roll along said surface of the picker, and means, including a part rigidly connected to the movable picker and a part which moves with the gumapplying roll, so constructed and arranged as to keep the axis of the roll at the same accurately predetermined dis- 'tance from the label-receiving surface of the picker during the spreading of the gum.

2. In combination in a labeling machine having a movable picker provided with a label-receiving surface, a roll for applying gum to said surface of the picker, means supporting the roll for bodily movement toward and from said picker surface, a rigid guide rail fixed to the picker so as to partake of the movements of the latter, a rigid roller which contacts said rail and which is operative to hold the axis of the gum-applying roll at an accurately predetermined distance from said label-receiving surface of the picker while the gum is being applied to said surface, and adjustable spring means operative to keep the roller in contact with the rail.

3. In a labeling machine of the kind which includes a movable picker having a rigid label-receiving surface and which travels back and forth along a predetermined path, once for each cycle of operation of the machine and which dwells at one terminus of said path while receiving a coating of gum, means, including a picker actuating rod, for so moving the picker in timed relation to other parts of the machine, a roll for spreading gum over said surface while the picker dwells at the aforesaid terminus of its path, and means for moving the roll bodily along said picker surface, in combination, a guide element parallel to said picker surface and which is so associated with the movable picker as to partake of all motions of the latter, and means, including a part which contacts said guide element, operative to hold the axis of the gum spreading roll at a predetermined distance from said label-receiving surface of the picker during each succes sive gum spreading operation.

4. In a labeling machine of the kind which includes a movable picker having a label-receiving surface and which travels back and forth along a predetermined path, once for each cycle of operation of the machine, means, including a picker actuating rod, for so moving the picker in timed relation to other parts of the machine, a guru applying roll whose axis is always parallel to the label-receiving surface of the picker, and means for moving said gum applying roll bodily along said surface of the picker, in combination, a pair of parallel guide rails, fixed relatively to the picker at opposite sides respectively of said label-receiving surface, each rail having a guiding surface parallel to the label-receiving surface of the picker, and means, including rollers which roll along each of the respective guide rails, each of said rollers being coaxial at all times with the gum applying roll, for keeping the axis of the gum applying roll always at the same distance from the label-receiving surface of the picker.

5. In a labeling machine of the kind which includes a movable picker having a label-receiving surface, means, including a picker actuating rod, for moving the picker, in timed relation to other parts of the machine, to and from a gum receiving position, means for varying said gum receiving position, at will, means including a roll, for spreading gum over said picker surface, and means for moving the roll bodily along said picker surface, in combination, a guide rail rigidly secured to the picker at each side respectively of said label-receiving surface, said guide rails partaking of all of the movements of the picker, and a roller which rolls along each of said guide rails, the rollers being coaxial at all times with the gum applying roll.

6. A movable picker for use in a labeling machine, said picker having a substantially flat and rigid label-receiving surface to which gum is applied preparatory to the labelpicking operation, and means, comprising a pair of spaced, parallel, rigid guide rails fixed relatively to'the picker so as to partake of any movements of the picker, said rails being located at opposite sides of the labelreceiving surface of the picker and having surfaces which are parallel to the plane of the label-receiving surface of the picker, for determining the thickness of a layer of gum applied to the label-receiving surface of the picker.

'7. In a labeling machine of the kind which includes a movable picker having a substantially flat label-receiving surface and which travels back and forth along a predetermined path, once for each cycle of operation of the machine and which dwells at one terminus of said path While receiving a coating of gum, means, including a picker actuating rod, for so moving the picker in timed relation to other parts of the machine, means whereby said terminus of the picker path may be shifted so that the label-receiving surface of the picker may lie alternatively in either of two spaced parallel planes while receiving gum, and a gum applying roll for applying gum to said label-receiving surface of the picker, in combination, means operative to hold the axis of said roll at the same distance from said label-receiving surface of the picker while applying gum thereto, whether said label-receiving surface lies in one or the other of said parallel planes.

8. In a labeling machine of the kind which includes a movable picker having a substantially flat label-receiving surface and which travels back and forth along a predetermined path, once for each cycle of operation of the machine and which dwells at one of the terminals of said path while receiving a coating of gum, means, including a picker actuating rod, for so moving the picker in timed relation to other parts of the machine, means whereby said terminus of the picker path may be shifted so that the label-receiving surface of the picker may lie alternatively in either of two spaced parallel planes while receiving gum, and a roll for applying gum to said surface of the picker, the roll being bodily movable in a path parallel to the label-receiving surface of the picker for spreading gum on said surface, the roll also being bodily movable toward and from the plane of said surface of the picker, whereby it may apply gum to said picker surface whether the latter lies in one or the other of said parallel planes, in combination, means providing a rigid guide element fixed relatively to the picker and extending parallel to said surface of the picker, and means, including a part which moves along said guide element, as the roll is actuated for spreading gum, for holding the axis of the roll at the same distance from said picker surface whether the latter lies in one or the other of said planes.

9. In a labeling machine of the kind which includes a movable picker having a label-receiving surface and which travels back and forth along a predetermined path once for each cycle of operation of the machine, and which while at one terminus of said path receives a coating of gum, means, including a picker actuating rod, for so moving the picker in timed relation to other parts of the machine, means whereby said terminus of the picker path may be shifted so that the label-receiving surface of the picker may lie alternatively at either of two spaced points while receiving gum, a carriage which moves parallel to the label-receiving surface of the picker, and a pair of arms each pivotally connected to the carriage at one of its ends and at its opposite end having an opening, a shaft whose opposite ends are normally disposed in the openings of the respective arms, in combination, means normally operative to prevent endwise movement of said shaft, a gum applying roll mounted on said shaft, a rigid roller at each end respectively of the gum applying roll and coaxial with the latter, guide rails fixed to the picker adjacent to opposite edges of the latter and which move with the picker, said guide rails having guide surfaces parallel to the label-receiving surface of the picker along which the respective rollers move, and yieldable means urging said rollers into contact with the guide surfaces of the respective rails.

10. A labeling machine according to claim 9 having means operative to prevent rotation of the shaft within the openings in said arms, the means for normally preventing endwise motion of the shaft being so constructed and arranged that the shaft may be withdrawn from said arms thereby to permit removal of the gum applying roll.

11. In a labeling machine of the kind which includes a movable picker having a substantially flat label-receiving surface and which travels back and forth along a predetermined path, perpendicular to said label-receiving surface, once for each cycle of operation of the machine and whichdwells at one terminus of said path while receiv ing a coating of gum, means, including a picker actuating rod for so moving the picker in timed relation to other parts of the machine, a roll for applying gum to said picker surface, and means for moving the roll bodily along said surface of the picker when the picker is dwelling in said gnmreceiving position, in combination, an elongate rigid guide rail'fixed to the picker and having a surface which is parallel to the label-receiving surface of the picker, and means, including a roller which contacts the surface of the guide rail, for determining the distance between the axis of thegnm applying roll and said label-receiving surface of the picker while the roll is applying gum to said picker surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNiTED STATES PATENTS 463,864 Kelley Nov. 24, 1891 464,044 Small Dec. 1, 1891 2,123,313 Parks July 12, 1938 2,274,796 Kluge Mar. 3, 1942 2,600,205 Carter June 10, 1952 

